January 30, 2017 7:23 PM
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Short term room rentals are big business in the New York area, but towns in northern New Jersey are moving to ban them and homeowners could face fines.
Suzanne Warfield told CBS2’s Meg Baker that she thinks of herself as a super host — renting a room in her home for more than two years now, and charging $100 a night — she made more than $14,000 in 2016.
Now, the Village of Ridgewood has put a ban on short-term rentals.
“The village has legitimate concerns about party houses, that’s not me. I am a single woman, enjoy living in this community, and being able to rent a bedroom is allowing me to stay in my home during difficult financial times,” she said.
Many of her guests are repeat customers with ties to the area, or couples looking for a new home.
“Three sets of grandparents who come into town to visit their grandchildren,” she said.
In Ridgewood, there are 63 homes playing host to Air BnB. The village had 3,000 guests in 2016.
Ridgewood’s mayor said the niche travel industry had not been addressed with zoning rules until now.
Regardless of who your clients were, grandparents or others, the rental of rooms on a short term basis is now unlawful in the Village Suzanne.
Once again, people sticking their noses into other people’s business. It hasn’t been an issue so why ban it. Are the guests using up too many parking spots in the CBD?
3000 unknown strangers came and stayed next to us and left in 2016. That is 10% of the population of the village.
I guess that is what these two-buck hucksters want the community to become. Random people coming and going.
Where does it say that it hadn’t been an issue? Mayor Knudsen reported that numerous complaints were received by Village Council members.
Yes, it HAS been an issue. People have complained. The council listened. The fact that you were unaware, 11:43, does not mean that others were unaware. I am glad the council took a stand on this. Falls in line with what other towns have been doing.
The fact that Ms. Warfield is a single woman has nothing to do with this law. The fact that she likes the extra money has nothing to do with this law. The fact that she likes her clients had nothing to do with this law. Tho law was enacted to maintain the private residential homes in our neighborhood. We all pay plenty of taxes to live in a quiet town. I don’t want mini hotels up and down my block. Thank you Village Council for your unanimous vote on this matter.
Susanne, you were making money and it was legal. Now it is not legal. It’s that simple. You were not violating the law, but you and all the others will be now if you keep at it.
The sense of entitlement rolling off of Ms. Warfield is very condescending. Ridgewood does not owe you the right to run a hotel. Nope. Sorry.
140 nights out of the year… that’s a hotel
I am happy with our new ordinance. People may not turn their homes in single-family zones into international hotels any more than they may turn them into shops. Zoning laws protect the neighbors and the town. Property values are only one consideration. This zoning law had to be created because it wasn’t needed before. I commend the council for acting on complaints. Many other towns and cities are doing the same.
I hope you don’t have a mortgage… because you now qualify as a rental (not a personal use) property, with the associated higher business interest rate.
you cant legislate the sharing economy away and hide… its as inevitable as uber… part of the 21st century economy…
This is a no brainer. Glad they put a stop to this
5:17 this i very different from uber.
4:56 – betting the ranch that some of those 60 homes are mortgaged.
Actually it can be 365 nights of the year. You can rent monthly, so theoretically you can rent out a room or rooms all the time i fyou can get consecutive renters.
pesmith @5:17 – Does saying that make you feel younger and more flip? Newsflash: People have been ‘sharing’ their beach homes and vacation homes with strangers for decades.
As it pertains to Ridgewood, we have zoning laws that delineate businesses and residences for a reason. My neighbor has as much right to run a hotel out of his house as do I to set to set to set up a commercial car wash operation on my driveway.
1051…I may set up a hazardous waster dump then… but seriously, this is not going to go away… 1 battle lost does not constitute a war being lost. Air bnb is working with NYC now, Jersey City has protocols…for people who are against Air bnb (I dont like it but I dont think it does any harm and can help our senior residents who are house rich and cash poor stay in town) its a temporary relief… these postings made me realize that the blog is for over 55 only…. I dont know about hip but I do know luddites…
while I agree that Begen County has no shortage of luddites , I think its a question of safety , security and peace and quite . In theory I think many aspects of the share economy have merit , in practical reality, Ridgewood may not be the place for that experiment
The sharing economy is here to stay no matter what anyone says. Our kids will take self-drive uber cars to work and play, and stay at Air BnB shared accommodations on business trips and holidays. The fact that Ridgewood isn’t a destination probably means it never takes off here anyway, but luddites rule in NJ and Ridgewood. Tesla’s online sales model was banned because it messes with car dealers, uber is a threat to cabbies, and Air BnB threatens hotels. Why aren’t we asking what is wrong with the conventional wisdom on these issues instead of the immediate reaction to block change?
I dont like the idea of Air BnB but its inevitable… when you look at the rentals that have taken place in Ridgewood, it doesnt appear to be grubby transients… IT professionals, people here for golf tourneys, relatives, etc…. in terms of complaints, what problems have actually occurred… maybe we should have identity papers since you now have neighbor spying on neighbor…
Your homeowners insurance would not pay a claim iif they found out your were renting to others.
Council has not adequately addressed airbnb. It’s a new phenomenon and all ramifications need to be considered. ie using residential property in residential zone as a commercial revenue producing property. Some municipalities have added the requirement that hosts must be present during rentals. There is also the issue of insurance and renters who are not aware of town regulations (water, trash, etc.). This is just the tip of the iceberg and I don’t think it’s been thought through. Should town be able to collect taxes on properties used as commercial ventures? There’s a lot to think about contrary to those who think this is just a progressive great idea to be exploited by those who need quick cash.
830- Airbnb has liability coverage provisions. that was my main concern. You can see it on their website. Maybe other posters here should go to the Airbnb site to see what the requirements are instead of guessing. I agree w 836. Do a cost impact study, limit # of guests and if the numbers work, do a surcharge to bring in some revenue to the village. Don’t just ban it due to a few complaints. I’ve yet to hear about a crime related to Airbnb but you know, those people that may rent to go to a golf tourney or an it professional renting a room for a few weeks certainly sounds dangerous to me…
It should not reflect badly on a neighbor who is upset that the house next door is being used as a mini hotel. Excuse me, do not blame the neighbor or characterize them as nosy. We have a right to expect a certain level of peace and quiet in our neighborhood, and the comings and goings of transient tourists is unacceptable. And the argument that if you have thus far been unaware then there is therefore no problem is bullshit. If my neighbor is quietly cooking up crack cocaine next door and I don’t know it this is not OK. Not comparing drug production to tenant renting, but the point is that just because you are getting away with it, this is not OK.
There are hotels and motels in Paramus, Rochelle Park, Woodcliff Lake……and maybe you can get a permit to make one in the CBD if you want to. Point is, there are plenty of places for grandma to stay when she comes to town (for those that are unwilling to have grandma stay with the family). And a legit hotel or BNB could be put in the downtown, why not at that Jenny Banta House. that seems like a great location for a small hotel, it even has parking. But I don’t want a goddamn hotel abutting my back yard and i am not apologizing for it.
2:22… then you can spy on your neighbors and turn them in… maybe a luddite society can be formed and offer rewards for turning in your fellow residents… maybe a ridgewood bund society too…
perhaps going to the Village council would be a better strategy than blaming others,the Village council could actually address the issue
The council has been very responsive, sometimes too much imho to a few cranks and i dont hide in anonymity when I say I was a massive supporter of the previous regime…. this is not going to go away, the town luddites need to recognize it… the solution is the middle ground…
Sadly pesmith, luddites rule the town’s agenda. The ongoing decline of the CBD and the decision by Valley to relocate are evidence enough of that. Ridgewood was a very special place in the 1980s. Now we get excited when a hoagie shop comes to town although I’m sure there will be those worried about those dangerous and hormone addled high school students loitering around Jersey Mike’s. Maybe the Council can put crowd limits on the number of people in front of the store as soon as their vocal supporters complain?
“…as soon as one of their four vocal supports complains and post something on Facebook.” There, fixed that fer’ ya’.
@6:47… In last night’s public comments, Susanne Warfield gave a very persuasive argument to loosen the regs. It’s in the Record as well today. When you have some commenters worrying about crack labs in Air BnB rooms here in Ridgewood it speaks volumes. Thankfully the state is looking into this…. you can’t have 511 different municipalities doing radically different regulations… it can be a moneymaker for the town too…